It’s only the beginning of fall in Central Florida. The temperatures remains in the upper 80’s I cannot even find a sweater, much less an insulated jacket. Tomorrow, I’m headed for Indiana for a disability meeting. The tempertures there are in the 40’s and 50’s. It won’t be that cold until January or February where I live. Then the cold will only last a day or two; and we complain bitterly.

For me, cold is a great distraction. Over the years in meetings, I’ve learned to concentrate during sermons, teachings and presentations, unless I’m cold. That is why I constantly take a sweater with me during the winter. Even in the summer, air conditioning can m some rooms too cold for me.

Face it. We all fight distractions. Ministering to the mentally challenged community, we work exceptionally hard to minimize distractions. There are most many things we do to try to eliminate or downplay distraction.

1. We try to be sure that the room is clear of visual distraction. It’s important to move equipment, books and all other objects out of the view of our members.

2. If there are things that cannot be moved out of site, we will try to make them as attractive as possible. Meeting in an attractive room isn’t always an options. Therefore, we use barriers to cut away from the starkness of an exposed and empty area.

3. Try to minimize the distracting effect of the things you cannot hide. I not only do the praise and worship; I also operate the sound system. This means that I need to have the sound equipment close to me. In Vero, I can hide the equipment and still have it in an accessible place. That isn’t true about Melbourne. Therefore, I must have the sound board behind me. Each week I try to set up the equipment in an orderly manner. Everything is put in the same place. Routine can give us the illusion of order.

4. We try to keep our appearance or mannerisms from becoming a distraction. Each week, I dress in a professional manner–suits and good shoes. Black suits are always a good choice for a woman Our executive director, Richard Stimson wears a white robe or a business suit when he preaches on Sunday. He will dress down a bit for our programs during the week.

Whatever you do and no matter how much you “minister” recognizing distractions are important. Keeping yourself focused is equally vital. Christianity is building a relationship with the Lord. All of our lives are filled with distraction. You may not need to carry a sweater; but we all need to recognize what keeps us from concentrating on the things of the Lord and do our best to minimize or eliminate it.

Linda G. Howard

Linda G. Howard is the best-selling and award-winning author of four books, including MOTHERS ARE PEOPLE, TOO and THE SECRET LIFE OF A HOUSEWIFE. Currently, she serves as area director of The Special Gathering, a ministry within the mentally challenged community. Additionally, she is the co-publisher and editor of CONNECTING POINT, the ministry newsletter. Her husband is a retired aerospace technologist who worked for NASA. They have three children and four grandchildren.